Daniels opposes time zone referendum

Mary Beth Schneider
Gov. Mitch Daniels today called a proposed statewide referendum on Indiana's time zone boundary "a bad idea."
At least two lawmakers have said they will file bills seeking a referendum on whether Hoosiers prefer Central or Eastern time for most or all of the state. The time zone debate has raged throughout this year in Indiana following passage of a law adopting daylight-saving time for the whole state.


That law required Daniels to seek federal hearings on the time zone boundaries, and the federal government has tentatively recommended that five counties join the 10 Indiana counties that already are in the Central time zone. The rest of Indiana's 92 counties are in the Eastern time zone.

Daniels sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta -- who will make the final decision on the time zone boundary in January -- this week urging the department to reconsider moving St. Joseph County to Central time, in order to leave it unified in the Eastern zone with its key economic neighbor, Elkhart County. He also asked the department to grant the requests of six southwestern counties to move to Central time.

State Rep. David Crooks, D-Washington and State Rep. Steve Heim, R-Culver, both have called for a statewide referendum in the November 2006 election to find out what time zone Hoosiers prefer. South Bend Mayor Steve Luecke, who wants St. Joseph County to move to Central time, also has urged Daniels to support a referendum.

Daniels, in his letter, said he thinks the majority of Hoosiers want Eastern time. A referendum, he said today in his weekly meeting with reporters, would not be useful.

"I think this process has come to the best end it could. We ought to put it behind us and turn on to other subjects. I don't think it would add anything," Daniels said.

Every county had the opportunity to seek a federal hearing on a time zone change this year, he said.

"The vast majority didn't. And I don't think you'd get any different answer if you asked the question again."